First Take SA

The Mozambican National Electoral Commission says police will be deployed to all voting stations to ensure a smooth electoral process. Mozambique holds its general elections tomorrow (Tuesday). There have been reports of sporadic attacks on citizens by unknown armed gunmen. A local election observer Anastacio Matavele, was shot and killed last week in Xai Xai in Gaza province.

OPE has called on the South African government to blacklist Bosasa from doing business with government departments. The party says Justice and Correctional Services Minister, Ronald Lamola must disclose whether the controversial company - now known as African Global Operations - continues to get financial government contracts. COPE spokesperson, Dennis Bloem says the South African government should follow the example of the United States where the controversial Gupta brothers were sanctioned from doing business with US companies.

Social media has been abuzz this past weekend over a video which seemingly shows Springboks winger, Makazole Mapimpi being snubbed by a group of players during celebrations which followed the clash between South Africa and Italy at the Rugby World Cup in Japan on Friday. The debate raged on even after Mapimpi recorded a video of himself explaining the rugby culture within the team that may haVE led some to cry foul over the incident. Springboks coach, Rassie Erusmus also weighed in on the issue explaining that any form of racism is not tolerated in the team.

Mmusi Maimane's future as leader of the Democratic Alliance remains uncertain, days after the party cleared him of financial wrongdoing. An investigation was conducted following allegations that Maimane's Toyota fortuner was a donation from controversial Steinhoff former CEO Markus Jooste. Weekly newspaper, Sunday Times YESTERDAY ( Sunday) reported that a delegation of senior party figures, including former DA leader Tony Leon, has asked Maimane to quit for the sake of the party. Meanwhile, former leader Helen Zille has announced her candidacy for the position of chairperson of the party's

Traditional leaders in the Eastern Cape have expressed disappointment in the delay by President Cyril Ramaphosa to announce on the release of jailed King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo. Ramaphosa had visited the Abathembu nation ahead of the May national elections to garner votes and it was hoped that King Dalindyebo would receive a presidential pardon from the new administration after the elections. Some traditional leaders have now accused Ramaphosa of using them

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari is in South Africa on a State Visit amidst strained relations between the two nations following the recent spate of attacks on foreign nationals including Nigerians. Buhari will co-chair the 9th SA-Nigeria Bi-national Commission -BNC- with President Cyril Ramaphosa later this morning. Today's BNC seeks to strengthen political and economic relations between the two countries as well taking stalks of the implementation of the over 30 bilateral agreements signed between the two sister republics.

DA chief whip, John Steenhuisen has invited the Institute for Race Relations to join its party membership or form its own political party instead of meddling in the leadership of the official opposition. This follows an opinion piece which argued that current Western Cape premier, Alan Winde should replace Mmusi Maimane as party leader. The IRR endorsed the article claiming that it promotes robust non-racialism and seeks to seeks to stimulate an authentic conversations about the future of ideas in South Africa.

The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) says it will seek a minimum wage of 17-thousand Rand per month for its workers, up from 12-thousand-500 Rand. The union lashed out against what they call greedy CEOs within the platinum sector, who benefit at the expense of poor miners. AMCU has taken Sibanye-Gold and Anglo American Platinum to the CCMA over wage negotiations and planned retrenchments. Union president, Joesph Mathunjwa has threatened strike action should mediation fail.

The Eastern Cape government has sent its condolences to the families of five victims who died when a storm hit Manzimdaka village at Cala on Sunday night. Three children including a two year-old toddler and two elderly men died after walls fell on them. Scores of other houses have been flattened,

The Competition Commisson's Health Market Inquiry has found that the private health market has failed consumers by overcharging them with no clear outcomes. The commission also found among other things, that healthcare practitioners are subjected to little regulation. The inquiry, which was initiated in 2013, released its findings with recommendations, yesterday. .